How to Say “Can I help you?” in Chinese
Work and study · HSK 2
"Can I help you?" in Chinese is 我能帮你吗 (Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ma). In shops and hotels, staff almost never say 我能帮你吗; they say 请问有什么可以帮您的吗 using the polite 您 (nín). The textbook literal translation sounds stiff.
Primary translation
我能帮你吗
Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ma
Traditional: 我能幫你嗎
Variants by register
Formal
请问有什么可以帮您的吗
Qǐngwèn yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín de ma
Casual
要我帮忙吗
Yào wǒ bāngmáng ma
When to use it
In shops and hotels, staff almost never say 我能帮你吗; they say 请问有什么可以帮您的吗 using the polite 您 (nín). The textbook literal translation sounds stiff. Among friends, drop the 我 entirely: 要帮忙吗? (need help?) is what most Chinese people actually say. 帮忙 (bāngmáng) is a separable verb; you can say 帮你一个忙 ('do you a favor'), which is a useful pattern. On Taobao or WeChat customer service, expect 亲 (qīn, 'dear') before the offer: 亲,有什么可以帮您?
Example sentences
请问有什么可以帮您的吗？
Qǐngwèn yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín de ma?
Excuse me, is there anything I can help you with?
你看起来很忙，要我帮忙吗？
Nǐ kànqǐlái hěn máng, yào wǒ bāngmáng ma?
You look busy; want me to help?
能帮你一个忙吗？
Néng bāng nǐ yí ge máng ma?
Can I do you a favor?